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GLENDALE, Ariz. – That four-goal outburst by the Calgary Flames in a win the night before was indeed a mirage.

One that disappeared once the Flames got to the heart of the desert.

Much like their hope after a couple of unlucky bounces put them down a pair early in the second period en route to a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night.

“We felt good about ourselves (Monday) and today, I felt we had a good first (period). We carried it over, were making plays, had some really good shifts, but we let it slip after they got those first two,” said captain Mark Giordano. “In the third, down three, you’re pressing and trying to force plays, and a team like that, when they get up, they’re probably one of the hardest teams to come back on.”

One night after — for them — an offensive breakout and 4-3 win in the Mile High City, the flickering Flames returned to their struggling offensive ways and were blanked yet again.

The Flames were shut out for the fourth time in six outings and five times in 10 games. They’ve managed just two wins in that span.

More disappointing was how an even opening period, in which they were strong defensively — a key when playing on consecutive nights — fell apart after Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal scored within a 96-second span before the announced Jobing.com Arena crowd of 10,229.

Mikkel Boedker’s centering pass from behind the net ricocheted off Flames goalie Reto Berra into Doan’s shoulder and bounced into the net to open the scoring. Before the Flames could comprehend that turn of events, Lauri Korpikoski sent a long shot towards the net, only to see the puck hit Radim Vrbata’s leg and fall right to Hanzal’s stick on the other side of the slot. Hanzal made no mistake.

“They were better than us. We kind of fell apart after they got those two goals,” Flames head coach Bob Hartley said. “We kept battling, but they got their third goal late in the second and fourth in the third and we had no more (wind in the) sails.

“If you look at offence, they have more weapons than we do. Their top three lines, they can all score.”

They all did while the Flames can’t seem to find anyone who can light the lamp with regularity.

And considering the Flames only scored more than two goals in one of Berra’s last 10 starts, things took an ominous turn for the worse just past the midway point when Boedker finally scored a goal a player could actually be proud of.

Flames killer Mike Ribeiro zipped a pass to Boedker when he was at the left faceoff dot, and he promptly fired a short-side offering to make it 3-0.

Korpikoski, who was named to Finland’s Olympic team, tallied in a three-point night, while former Calgary Hitmen Michael Stone and Rob Klinkhammer rounded out the scoring.

Seven Coyotes netted two or more points, while the Flames looked like a discouraged and dispirited bunch.

“They stay patient and they stick with it, and we saw the snowball effect,” said Flames forward Michael Cammalleri. “They did the right way and we did it the wrong way tonight.

“It’s been a while now that it’s been an uphill battle, so I don’t think (being discouraged) is a new feeling. We’re working hard to be better. I don’t feel that sense of danger because we’ve been up against it for a while now. It’s not like we think we win one game and we’re starting the parade.”

Coyotes goalie Thomas Greiss made 27 saves to record the first shutout of the season for the Coyotes (21-12-9), who won their first regulation time game since Dec. 12.

Berra stopped 24 shots for the Flames (15-22-6), who return home to face the St. Louis Blues Thursday. The Blues have 10 players named to various Olympic teams.